Results 38,761-38,780 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: I asked two questions on the Taoiseach's visit to China, which I welcome. As he said, a relationship has been developing over 30 years. He would have to acknowledge also that the Asia strategy of 1999 represented a very significant expansion and upscaling of the nature of the relationship between this country and China. I recall that back in 1999, two-way trade was worth approximately...

Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: One of the key issues for the future is the two-way relationship in education. We need to provide more opportunities for students in Ireland to study Mandarin, particularly at second level. The Confucius institutes have been established but have substantive discussions been entered into with the Chinese authorities regarding a joint programme to facilitate student participation in...

Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Our ambassador to China is the greatest example of all.

Estimates for Public Services 2012: Messages from Select Committees (24 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Fleming, who is taking this Bill on behalf of our party, has indicated to me that quite a substantial number of amendments have arrived late in the day and adequate time has not been allowed for discussion of these amendments to allow an understanding of their full implications. More time is required, given the number of amendments and the lateness of their arrival. This represents a...

Estimates for Public Services 2012: Messages from Select Committees (24 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Why is it being taken now, anyway?

Educational Resources (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 14: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his reason for carrying out a pilot inventory of educational resources in just four to six provincial towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19397/12]

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Tánaiste knows a lot about taps going on and off.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: I oppose the Order of Business as it is laid out on the grounds that it is important and necessary there should be a comprehensive debate on water charges.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Yesterday we asked for the Minister to come before the House to make a detailed statement on the issue and to take questions. It is extraordinary that every newspaper, radio and television programme has been able to debate the issue while the one place it cannot be debated is Dáil Éireann where the elected representatives of the people are. It speaks to the irrelevance of the House in...

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Rabbitte is laughing because he does not believe his fellow Minister's hyperbole, but if the decision is that big, surely the Government can facilitate a decent debate on the issue where the Minister can come before the House to make a detailed statement and take questions?

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: The hapless Minister of State is probably fed up standing in for the Minister.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Metering is starting in October.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Given what was said earlier, is it now promised that section 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill will be deleted on Committee Stage? Will the Tánaiste confirm that we can expect amendments in line with what was said by the Minister for Social Protection last night? Will section 4, which deals with the reduction in payments to single parents up to 2014 and establishing the age of...

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: Apparently he has published a lay person's guide to the regulations but has not published the regulations. There might be a reason for that. This might be a sleight of hand approach because he does not wish to say up-front what the regulations actually mean in terms of the standards that will apply. It is something he has dodged and fudged for months now.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: It is unprecedented that a Minister would write to a Deputy to say he is not publishing regulations because they are too legalistic and would confuse people, but that is what he said in writing.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, that it sounds incredible, but I can show him the letter. He should see the Minister, Deputy Hogan, whom I know is held in the highest esteem and affection by members of the Labour Party. However, can the Tánaiste confirm when those regulations will be published?

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: I have just learned of the sad passing of Mr. Paul Barry who worked in Leinster House for many years. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I convey our sympathy and sorrow to Paul's family. He was an outstanding gentleman who was kind, courteous and represented the best traditions of the Houses. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. The budget the Government introduced hit the lowest income...

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Minister's position is deceptive because it is pretending to make a change without making any. Incidentally, I agree that it is wrong to reduce the age to seven years. If the Minister and her Government colleagues are serious, surely the only honourable and sincere approach would be to withdraw the Bill or, at least, delete section 4 which gives rise to this provision. It is not...

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: That is an extraordinary comment by the Tánaiste, avoiding the core point of the question. If he agrees with the Minister, Deputy Burton, who perhaps believes she is Tánaiste in a different way, that the age of seven is too young for anyone to contemplate access to education or adequate child care on the Scandinavian model, why put this into the Bill in the first place? Why make this...

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2012)

Micheál Martin: It is an attack on single parents.